History & highlights

2015

First European Literacy Week started in September.

Launch of the Libraries Changes Lives publication.

2014

Opening of the Brussels office.

Start of the Public Libraries 2020 campaign to raise awareness for the immense value the 65.000 libraries in Europe add to everyday life. This campaign is powered by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In February the Reading & Writing Foundation becomes full member of the management board of ELINET and leader of one of the eight teams (campaigning & awareness raising).

2013

The European Commission follows-up report of the EU High Level Group on Literacy with a Call for Proposal for a European Policy Network of National Literacy Organisations (ELINET). A pan-European network formed with 80 organisations, including the Reading & Writing Foundation, is one of the applicants.

2012

Princess Laurentien and the Reading & Writing Foundation present the conclusions of the EU High Level Group in among other places Bulgaria, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and the European Parliament.

The EU Council of Education Ministers adopts the conclusions of the EU High Level Group on Literacy.

A large-scale municipal and regional coalitions-based pilot is implemented in the Netherlands: ‘Language for Life’, aiming to offer solutions in reading and writing development close to people’s lives.

2011

Public recognition of the literacy skills issues has grown from 13% in 2006 to 51% in 2011.

EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou appoints Princess Laurentien to Chair the EU High Level Group on Literacy.

2009

Princess Laurentien is appointed as UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development.

“The Forum AtoZ” is established: a platform of 27 prominent Dutch people to help promote literacy projects in the Netherlands.

2004

H.R.H. Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands sets up the Reading & Writing Foundation. Active stakeholders in the Netherlands are connected to collaborate and to together raise public and political awareness of literacy.

Annual Literacy Week is launched, each year around International Literacy Day, 8 September. The initiative has grown to over 1.000 activities around the country by 2013.